Coming up with names for NPCs on the fly can be tough. It can be even tougher in a fantasy setting. About a decade ago, I started keeping a list of random names in my folder of generic GM tools: Pick up the list, pick a name, and you’re good to go.

I generated the list below a little over five years ago when I was working at a temp job doing a massive amount of data entry: I quickly realized that mixed into the hundreds of common entries like “Bob” and “Susan” there would occasionally be an unusual or flavorful name. So I started jotting those names down on a piece of paper. And they were great. Particularly because they were real names (which meant, among other things, that they were pronounceable).

So these have served me well for half a decade, now I offer ‘em to you in the hope that they might serve you well.

Playtest Tip: The process of picking up this piece of paper and looking at it, if handled properly, is indistinguishable from looking at any of your other notes. It also buys you a valuable breath of time in which to brainstorm the unexpected NPC and then put your thoughts into order before opening your mouth. Take advantage of both the bluff and the moment of reflection to sustain the illusion of the world for your players.

My high school 10th grade health teacher was Mr Goffredo – he was also the school basketball coach. His wife was pregnant at the time, so he used ‘Baby Goffredo’ in many of his hypothetical examples in class.

Looks great! May I also recommend abulafia’s U.S. census name generator and the Everchanging book of names? Both are great for generating pronouncable names that are beleivable, and Ebon takes it’s source from literature, so the names are authenthic sounding at least. I have used both extensively.